The Yokans, The Zakis and Chestnuts Part 2
It was time for chestnut hunting.
The two sweet sisters knew that it would be best for their husbands and their daughters to go outside in the fresh air, possibly to clear up the early fight that had occurred.
"I am going with the Stix n' Tori." Koni said as she pushed Gashi towards Dango "YOU can head out with Big Don and his group."
"W-What?!" the slim man sputtered, looking down at the disappointed Sticky "But dear-! Ya know Stix an' I usually-!"
"Ah-bah-bahp!" the woman said, bopping the man on his forehead with her fingers "Don't say another word mister. Spend some time with your other family members an' besides!"
"Besides?"
"You're gonna have MINTY with ya!" the woman beamed as she handed her husband the disgruntled looking child "If there are any bears out there, she can handle 'em! BYE!"
"B-But Koni! WAIT!"
TOO LATE.
Before the man could object, Koni had disappeared down the trail with her other two daughters, leaving Gashi along with not only his uninterested daughter but his 'extended' family as well. Hanami seemed friendly enough, the woman smiling at him.
"Well, are you ready?"
But Dango and Sakura?
They seemed less than pleased.
The man looked down, noticing his angered daughter; she didn't look like she wanted to join in on the hunt either but by this point she had no choice. No one had a choice. It was a bitter candy they all had to swallow and with a moan and a shake of the head….
"Let's go." Gashi mumbled, leading his three guest down the path.
The air was comfortable, the sun bright and the air sweet as the five went down the path and it didn't take long for them to find a collection of chestnut trees, their fruit ready for the picking.
"You know, I've never picked chestnuts myself before." Hanami said with a sweet tone towards Gashi.
"Really?"
"Nope." The woman tittered to herself "You know Koni and me. We're city girls! In fact, Koni never even saw a real ryokan until-!"
"U-Until she came here…." The slim man blushed "Yeah, I know. She tells me all the time."
"She tells me other things as well…" the older woman said, Gashi feeling a little embarrassed "Mostly how much she loves spending time with you."
As if the man couldn't turn any redder!
"Funny ya say that…" he grumbled "Loves spendin' time with me? Abandons me at tha first chance when I need her!"
What was that for?
"I cannot believe this!" the group heard a deep voice grump "I cannot believe that I, tha GREAT Dango Poco Yokan, has ta go CHESTNUT pickin', like some-! Some-! Some country bumpkin!"
Gashi glanced over towards his brother-in-law, an angry glint easily seen through the lenses of his glasses. Hanami moved over to the man, taking his chin in-between her delicate fingers.
"Don't act as if you're above such things." The woman cooed teasingly "Because if I recall, a certain someone I know very closely is a country bumpkin himself."
The big man blushed, caught in his own words.
"Dear, need ya go into such things at a time like this?!"
"Ya know, DANGO." The thinner man said in a harsh tone "Chestnut pickin' is a loved tradition in my family."
Dango huffed and rolled his eyes, the man clearly not impressed.
"Ah, yes. When my family first settled in this area all we had were these trees around us, nothin' else. My Grandfather used to tell me when he was a boy how durin' those cold winter nights tha chestnuts kept his families bellies full an' when spring came-!"
"Ah-ha, now I am SURE that is a WONDERFUL tale…." Dango interrupted "But I do believe that it is best that we put our concentration forward on makin' sure we collect enough chestnuts."
It was OBVIOUS that the big man didn't want to hear another word from his 'brother'. In fact, he didn't want to be around him but as things were he had no choice. Might as well have one satisfaction in saving himself from a tale about the history of some old inn.
"Hey, hey! What are ya doin'?!" shouted Minty as she rushed over to Sakura, the girl holding onto a chestnut with her gloves.
"Why, what's wrong?"
"Don'tcha check chestnuts before ya throw 'em in your basket?" Minty growled, swiping the nut from her cousin's hand and inspecting it "See?"
"See what?"
Minty raised the nut, showing Sakura that there was a worm inside.
"Ya put this in with tha others an' it spoils tha whole bunch! We cudda had our entire day wasted if ya didn't-!"
"Oh, what kinda bug is that?" Sakura beamed.
"What?" blinked Minty "I dunno! Sticky is tha one that knows all tha stuff 'bout bugs an' things! Ya should ask HER!"
"Well, I CAN'T ask her since she's with your MOM!" Sakura huffed back "I would have thought that ya knew something about the bugs here since you stay out here all the time!"
"Oh, so just because I live in tha country it means I roll around with bugs?!" Minty shouted back "YOU seem fine with 'em enough, or is it just SPIDERS that bother ya Miss Princess!"
"I AM NOT A PRINCESS!" Sakura shouted "I am-!"
"Girls, stop!" Gashi shouted, trying his best to separate the two "Goodness, you're gonna roar louder than the train!"
"The train?" Sakura asked curiously "What train?"
"There's a train that goes past here not too far up the path…." Gashi smiled "Durin' tha summer months, we get a lotta people who travel on it. It's really nice."
"And is this as far as it goes?" asked Sakura.
"No, actually it goes to tha ocean." Smiled the girl's uncle "Back then, it was tha only way ta get there before they made a path for tha roads. It's still popular though since it usually takes a lotta effort ta make it through here by car."
"Daddy?"
Dango shook, his eyes looking darker than normal "Yes, honey?"
"Why didn't we take the train up to the ocean? It seems like a lotta fun and-!"
Dango twitched again, the children not taking notice though the adults did. Gashi gave Hanami a quick and worried look, the woman rushing towards her big husband.
"And I've never been on a train before! Maybe when we stop filing we can ride on it the way ba-?"
"NO!" bellowed Dango, his deep voice booming throughout the entire forest. Both candy children jumped back, Sakura ESPECIALLY surprised as she had never seen her father react in such a way.
At least when Sea Bananas weren't involved.
"WE ARE NOT GETTIN' ON THAT TRAIN! WE ARE NOT STOPPIN' AT THAT STTION! WE ARE NOT GOIN' ANYWHERE NEAR THAT PLACE! DO YA HEAR ME?!"
"OH! Oh, but daddy!"
"Enough Sakura! Go back with Minty an' keep searching for those walnuts!"
"Chestnuts." Correct Gashi "They are CHESTNUTS!"
"Beechnuts, almonds! Hazelnuts a boc! Can we just get enough of 'em so we can head back?! PLEASE?!"
"DANGO!" Hanami glared at her love "What has gotten into you! This is no way to treat family!"
The man scowled at his wife, taking her roughly by the wrist and pulling her away from the others. Gashi felt his spine tingle, worried that he had said the wrong thing to spark a confrontation between the two but as they stood away, the rest could only hear the hushed argument between them. Sakura felt scared as she knew that her parents would often tease each other, Hanami coming out on top more often than her father, she had never really seen them FIGHT before, especially in public.
"Just stay here!" Hanami snapped as she walked away from Dango.
"Don't ya dare turn away from me-!"
"No, don't YOU dare try to justify this! The way you're behaving, especially towards Gashi and in front of the children!? Dango, how could you?!"
The man inhaled deeply, puffing out his chest "You know why. Don't pretend that you don't!"
"It's not his fault." The woman said, sounding disappointed in her husband "It's not his fault that happened yet you act like it is."
"Hanami, if you really understood-!"
"I'm going to help Koni." The woman said as she turned and walked down the opposite path.
"An' leave me here?!"
"You NEED to get over it, Mister!" the woman turned back, the big man hit with her piercing glint "You NEED to stay here and HELP!"
As big and as powerful as Dango was, her beloved wife still had an edge over him, something that his own gentleman demeanor would never allow him to cross. He LOATHED the idea of being left along with Gashi in the middle of the woods but his feet remained planted on the ground, the fox-like candy woman just daring him to move so she could strike back.
"By the time you get back…." She hissed, her brow arching "I expect to see ALL of your packs full. Do you understand?"
Dango swallowed the massive lump in the back of his throat, Sakura and Minty seeing his eyes darken.
"He…he looks like a tanuki!" The green girl thought to herself.
"Yes, deah." The man said, nostrils flaring as he took in another breath "I shall not disappoint ya, love."
Hanami gracefully walked away, her exit bringing on a sense of DOOM the moment she disappeared.
Brother-in-law vs brother-in-law.
Cousin vs cousin.
IT WAS ON NOW!
"So….should we continue?" asked Gashi, gritting his teeth.
"Yes. Yes, we shall." Grunted Dango, narrowing his eyes.
Even the children presented themselves the same way towards each other, Minty shuffling her pack against her back.
"So Princess. Ya think ya can handle this?"
"Better than you, Brickhouse."
Why did Hanami have to leave?
It didn't take long for the candy woman to find her sister, the younger of the siblings having gathered more than her share of chestnuts for the day.
"Sis?" Koni blinked as she watched her older sister coming up the path "What-? Why are you back so EARLY?"
"I'm sorry, Koni. But I had to leave them." Hanami said, kicking her shoes off rather ungracefully as she sat on the side of the in.
"Wait, LEAVE THEM? Ya didn't kill 'em did ya?!"
"Koni, I'm sorry for this…" the older woman sighed "I….I had no plans of intruding your day like this nor did I mean to bring so much drama."
"Oh, drama is fine!" the younger of the two laughed, bringing Sticky and Torvald with her as the three sat down next to their aunt "We're used to so much drama here, aren't we girls?"
"Yup!" said Torvald, grinning from ear to ear "I write down AAAAALL the things that happen here in my books!"
"Do you now?" Hanami asked, her sister pulling her over.
"She has an entire closet of journals! It's like she keeps tabs on everyone an' EVERYTHING that comes by!"
"Oh, does she?"
"Hold on!" the girl said as she bounded off "Lemme get one!"
Torvald disappeared into the inn for a moment only to come back with a brightly colored and decorated notebook in her hand.
"I made this one-!" she began "When mama told us that she wanted ya to visit more often!"
Hanami gave her sister a cheeky grin "Oh, REAAAALY?"
"TORVALD."
The girl sat between everyone and flipped open the books, everyone hit with a massive cloud of glitter and sweet smelling stickers.
"See, I made plans on how to make your room an' where we could all go!" the girl began "This would have been so fun together an' I kinda wish I would have known so we cudda done this when ya got here-!"
"Um…this is….this is CUTE, Torvald." Hanami said, laughing nervously once she saw the drawings that her niece had made of her and her husband "Uh. H-How did you know about the whole fox thing with me?"
Torvald looked at her aunt with massive eyes, Hanami seeing no end to them.
"I just KNOOOOOOOOOOW."
"WHOAH-KAY! DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN SHOW ME, DEAR?!"
"Can I show Auntie Hanami my plans for how the Kingdom is gonna look in one hundred years?!"
"NO."
"Aw, but mamaaaaaaaaa-!"
"Sticky, why don't you take your sister to the TV room? Play that game Mrs. Hanabi sent us?"
"Okay!" Sticky said happily as she jumped up "I wanna play the one with the bug catcher!"
"Nu-uh! That's all ya ever pick, Stix!"
The children ran off, their voices fading once they had finally retreated to the room. Koni sighed but there was something bright and friendly to her voice.
"Never thought this would happen, sis. Never thought that after everything we went through….THREE? Three of 'em? Why me?"
"Because you're three kinds of trouble." The older woman chuckled to herself "Anyone could tell you that."
Hanami may have smiled…but the way her sister remained silent sent a signal to her. Older Sister Senses were tingling, the woman putting a hand on Koni's shoulder.
"Sis?"
Koni nervously reached for a chestnut, skillful enough on how to handle it without getting pricked by the sharp burs around it.
"I know it's been a while since I've talked to you…." she said, carefully peeling back the burs of her chestnut "I know we live like a WORLD away but that's no excuse for droppin' ya like that."
"Oh, we're both busy!" Hanami quickly responded, not wanting to leave her sister in worry "I've been busy too! You won't believe how much business has EXPLODED since the Queen made ME her official designer and Dango? Heh, he always has SOME stupid role to fill!"
"An' I'm sure ya make certain he's on top of it?"
"Yup!"
Koni stopped again, rolling the freshly peeled nut between her fingers.
"There's something wrong." Hanami said "Don't even try to hide it, sis. I know there is…."
The younger candy woman looked at the elder, face showing that there was something sour happening in the inn.
"Konipetio….tell me. Tell me now."
"I never thought this was gonna happen…" Koni laughed "I never thought that someone like me would end up here…."
"And?"
"I never thought I would fall in love with this place, that's what. I know I whined so much about not wantin' to leave home an' how much I hated Sugar Rush but….but right now? I could never leave. I don't want to."
"So what's wrong? Why the sad act?"
"Could ya see it?" Koni asked "Could ya see it in Gashi's eyes?"
"Could I see what?"
"He's is really good at hiding it" the younger woman smiled "The moment ya guys came in, he hid it so well but that's always been his thing. He's always so happy…but…."
Koni brushed her pastel bangs out of her eyes, clutching the chestnut with her other hand.
"Sis? We might lose this place."
"What?!" gasped the elder sister "Lose it?! WHY?!"
"We're just not makin' tha money we've used ta." The woman smiled "Not since they put up that big fancy place near tha beach? This place seems like old hat now."
Hanami felt her stomach twist all because she was very aware of that 'big fancy place near the beach'; the very place she and her family were trying to go before their sudden accident.
"Don't even to be mum 'bout it, Nami. I know that's where ya were goin'."
Sisterly intuition had struck again!
"There's no need to feel bad 'bout it though. I mean, I'd like to visit the place myself and I know with someone of your status!"
"That doesn't matter! That doesn't matter at all!" Hanami rushed in "It doesn't matter whatever crust you're cut from-! I just-!"
"Sis, I told ya it's okay!"
Unknown to the two women two pairs of eyes as well as EARS had taken audience to the conversation, two candy children tucked behind the wall as they listened to what their mother and aunt had to say.
"We're losin' money?" meeped Sticky nervously.
"We….we might lose our home?" whimpered Torvald.
"Sometimes we get lucky, but we've hit a nose-dive since Gashi's parents died." Koni continued "I think…I think that was a really big blow for him when it happened."
"O-Oh…" Hanami said, knowing so few details on the events "Y-Yes, I do remember you mentioning that happening."
"I mean, his entire family was raised here from his great-great grandfather all the way down to the girls. He's had to watch so many people he loved pass on here and with both his mother and father goin' so quickly together, I think it really hurt him."
"And the girls?"
"Minty…Minty took it the hardest." Koni sighed "She just hasn't been the same since grandfather died. I think he was the only one that really understood her. I mean, she's so tough and rough compared to Sticky and Tori. Tori has me, Gashi is always with Sticky but….but after Tai passed on….she's just felt alone and she's been so angry…."
Sticky and Torvald ducked behind the corner once more, their mother's words true. It hurt them so much to be reminded of the family members that had passed on but to hear that in combination with the thought of losing the only home they had?
What could they do?
"Remember Mr. Flubbutters?"
"You mean Reese?" Hanami said "Who could forget."
"He said he- No, rather the Von Schweetz wanted the property."
"A-And? What plans did they have for it?"
"To build another hotel like they did on the beach."
"Wait, what was th-?!"
"Reese came here and told us the plans, how the King n' Queen would reimburse us. Pay for a nice place to retire in the city. Said they'd 'keep to the natural traditions of the area but give it the modern update' that it needed."
"That sounds like a load of horehound."
Koni smirked at her sister "Ya know it was. That's why Gashi said NO but….but maybe we have no choice. I mean, if things really get worse than this we may hafta take that Von Schweetz' offer on the whole bet. I mean, if they even still wanna buy."
"Why didn't you just ask?" asked Hanami.
"Ask? Ask for what?"
"For help. If you needed it-"
"I don't think Gashi would have taken it." Koni said as she shook her head "He can be as stubborn as Dango when it comes to family pride plus- Plus I don't think he wanted to be seen as WEAKER compared to your husband. He tries to hide it but he's always felt a little guilty that he hasn't been able to hold up to a standard that you and your family has."
"Why-? Why would he even try to do that? You love him and I think he's a fine and wonderful person, especially with the way he dotes and cares for you and the girls! Why would he EVER think that there was any need to throw himself into such a fit?"
"Because of our families…" Koni sniffed arrogantly "He is very aware of my background an' to have a brother-in-law who's face is plastered everywhere? He goes about everyday trying to ensure we're taken care of!"
"That's very noble of him. And from what you've told me and from what I've seen, he's a hard worker! So caring!" said the older sister "Who would make him worry so much about all of this."
"Sorry to say it sis, but your hubby did." Koni snorted in laughter "Gashi has always felt bad for not giving US the lifestyle that Dango has given you and Sakura. An' it's not like I blame tha big guy!"
"Why?"
"Because I know what Dango EXPECTS from life!" Koni laughed "The big doof! Used to all that fancy stuff, the lavish lifestyle! He still was on a level I could only imagine so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the big raccoon face is-!"
"Sis?"
"Ah-huh?"
"There….there are a few things you need to know….."
Back with the fathers and daughters the search for the chestnuts were going even slower as Dango and Gashi remained silent, Minty and Sakura keeping their lips zipped. Dango reached for another chestnut, collecting it and throwing it in his basket.
"Did ya make sure ta check it this time?" asked Gashi.
"Yes, Gashi. I DID." Dango retorted, glowering.
The smaller man cocked his head to the side, knowing the other was not giving him any sort of attention "Are ya certain or are ya just sayin' that?"
Dango growled "Yes, I DID, GASHI! Now get off mah back, OKAY!?"
"I wouldn't be on your back like this if ya just LISTENED instead of tryin' ta fight with me!" the other father shot back.
"YOU'RE tha one who's fightin'! I'm just tryin' ta do mah job!"
"Oh, a JOB?! As if you've had a real one in your life!"
The fathers continued their bickering, not realizing that their daughters had wandered off passed the appointed path and down the hilly groves of the woods.
"I don't get it Sakura."
"What don't you get?" answered the green-tea girl, not at all wanting to hear the voice of her cousin.
"How can ya like worms an' ants an' beetles but ya hates SPIDERS? It doesn't make sense." The mint girl asked, wriggling her fingers "Oooooh! Ya afraid their gonna get in that ol' lady bun on your head?"
Sakura scowled, subconsciously reaching for her hair "I-It's not an ol' lady bun!"
"My mom wears somethin' like it an' she old!"
"Well, I like it!" the other girl shot back "An-An' sides, other bugs are okay! Spiders aren't!"
"Maaaan, I'm glad ya didn't go with Stix then! You'd be cryin' all day because she can spy a spider from all tha way from tha other side of tha kingdom!" Minty laughed loudly "Maybe ones that like ol' lady buns!"
"Stop actin' as if you're not afraid of anythin' Minty Zaki!"
Minty continued to laughed, enjoying seeing her cousin fume and pout "I'm not scared of ANYTHIN', lil Princess! 'Specially not BUGS or whatever!"
"Ooooh, this is why I hate visiting you!"
Minty turned around quickly, an angry look about her "What was that?"
"I get it Minty! I'm not as tough as you but what's the problem with that?! Or is this how ya treat EVERYONE who doesn't wanna roll around in the mud with you?!"
"W-Well, you wanna know tha reason why I hate when you come?!" Minty huffed "'Cause all mom an' dad do is worship an' PRAISE ya for bein' so sweet and perfect, a-as if that is something so special!"
Sakura didn't know what to say to her cousin, already hearing her voice shaking. Had she hurt her that much?
"Plus your dad is tha BAD GUY! He always pushes my dad around for no reason just because he thinks he's such a great movie star! Well I saw his movies an' they all stink!"
"My daddy's movies do not stink!" Sakura yelled, stunned that Minty would say such a thing about her father. She gave Minty a push, causing her to stumble back "You're stupid inn is tha place that STINKS!"
Minty could not believe that SAKURA of all people had touched her, the war rising to a head inside of her.
"No, YOU STINK!" the mint girl roared as she shoved Sakura back harder. Sakura nearly fell down but she recovered quickly, striking her cousin for a second time.
"YOU STINK!"
"YOU DO!"
"YOU-!"
The two girls gave each other a push but in doing to the ledge that they were on began to crumble. They screamed, tumbling down a small hill that went down so steep that the path they were on soon disappeared.
"AAAAAAH! MINTY!" screamed Sakura, looking up to see a thick vine above her "GRAB MY HAND!"
Minty did just that and her decent stopped. She looked down, seeing a pile of jagged rocks below her.
Had she crashed into that….
"S-Sakura!"
"Nnnngh, what?" the green tea girl struggled, feeling the weight of her cousin pulling her down "W-What?!"
"Swing me to the left!"
Sakura did just that, Minty finding a foothold on another path.
"Good, now let go!"
"WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY!?"
"Just let go!" Minty cried "I'll catch ya!"
Sakura wasn't too sure if she could trust her cousin but before she had another moment to think, the vine SNAPPED!
"KIYAAA-!"
"GOTCHA!"
Minty reached out and caught her cousin in her arms, the green tea girl surprised that Minty had been able to do such a thing.
"Ah….th-thanks….I-I guess."
The two girls looked up, seeing that they had fallen greatly off course from the path that led back to the inn, neither of them knowing exactly where they were.
"Oh no…." moaned Sakura "How do we get back home NOW!?"
